I Got a Bonus at Work—Then My Husband Spent It on a New Phone for His Mom Behind My Back

When Aaron was courting me, he was attentive, hardworking, and kind. I felt like the luckiest woman when he proposed. But after our honeymoon, he changed almost immediately.

At first, it was small things—skipping date nights for video games, “forgetting” the dishes, and letting go of our morning coffee ritual. Three years in, I couldn’t remember the last time he did something just to make me smile.

I told myself it was a phase, but things only got worse. One evening, Aaron came home complaining about work—again. The next day, he quit without a backup plan. Suddenly, I was paying all the bills while he played video games and obsessed over get-rich-quick schemes.

Hoping it was temporary, I even showed him where I kept emergency cash. Instead of job hunting, he spent his days lost in YouTube tutorials. Meanwhile, I worked overtime to keep us afloat.

Then, a rare bright spot—I got a $2,500 bonus at work! I thought it might inspire Aaron to step up. He hugged me, too sweetly, and I ignored my unease.

Days later, his mother, Ruth, visited. She swept through our home, inspecting, judging, and criticizing—especially me. “Too much salt, Olivia,” she said, ignoring that Aaron had added more without tasting his food.

I bit my tongue, but something in me was cracking.